California Nursing Home Administrator License Practice Exam

What action may AHCA take if it determines that adequate care is not being provided to residents?

1. Require the facility to discharge residents to the hospital

2. Allow the facility to self-correct without intervention

3. Require the administrator be included on the staffing schedule

4. Mandate the facility to halt all new admissions

The correct answer is: Require the administrator be included on the staffing schedule

The correct choice highlights the important role of staffing in ensuring that adequate care is delivered to residents in a nursing home. When the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) finds that a facility is not providing sufficient care, one of the immediate steps it may take is to require changes in the staffing structure. This can include mandating that the administrator be included on the staffing schedule, thereby increasing oversight and accountability within the facility. By having the administrator present, it facilitates closer monitoring of the quality of care and services being provided. It also ensures that management is directly involved in day-to-day operations, which can lead to improvements in care practices, resident safety, and compliance with regulations. The administrator’s presence can drive necessary changes and reinforce that the facility is taking the situation seriously. Other options available may not provide the same level of oversight or may even exacerbate the existing issues. For example, discharging residents to the hospital might not address the underlying care deficiencies, and self-correction may not be sufficient if immediate action is required to protect the residents. Halting new admissions, while potentially a measure to limit risk, does not directly improve the quality of care for the current residents and may not resolve the deficiencies identified. Thus, the requirement for the